C. Fawley Fjeran

LowTide 5 hrs  ·  Southern authors draw me in with their warm sunny settings—sandy beaches, marshes lined with live oak trees draped in Spanish moss. And pluff mud. "Huh? What is pluff mud?" Busted. You're not from around here, are you? But you've heard of Pat Conroy, right? Margaret Mitchel? Harper Lee? We reveal much about ourselves when we share who our favorite author, or what our favorite book is. Pat Conroy was a southern native from South Carolina. His last residence was in Beaufort—my husband's favorite coastal town. From time to time, David and I fantasize about retiring there—his emphasis is on Beaufort, mine is on retirement. In some sense, I regret that I never met Pat Conroy. Although, I feel as if we have met through his memoir. A couple of years ago, I purchased Conroy's book, "The Death of Santini." To my disappointment at the time, I was not anticipating memoirs. I was itching for one of Conroy's salty southern stories. I laid do...

LowTide June 9 at 7:00am  ·  We arrive early before sunset. For a couple of years, we zipped past Fat Patties diner and mused about the name but never stopped. Tonight when David asks where I want to eat, it's Fat Patties. I don't feel obliged to eat seafood every time I hit the coast. Burgers it is. Big, fat, luscious hamburgers. The crowd trickles in as we're pushing back from our table. Outside, the real attraction is winding up--Cornhole. Cornhole is a game that has been around since the 1800s. It made a come back after an article ran in Popular Mechanics in 1974. It is so popular now, there are national championships on ESPN. My mother lives life ahead of her time, although many think her ideas in present day are farfetched. In the 60s, she was working on her MA in Education. I recall helping her demonstrate an assigned project. Students designed games for elementary children. Mom's design was a giant painted rabbit with huge upright ears and a wide, open mouth. Sh...

LowTide June 3 at 7:30am  ·  The odds of finding a four-leaf clover are about one in 10,000. So, how is it possible that a woman found 21 four leaf clovers in her front yard? The Daily Telegraph reported the story and interviewed Australia Botanic Garden director of science Brett Summerell who notes, "There hasn't been a great deal of research into this..." ( https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/…/421524008bdcef723a95f54… ). I'm shocked--aren't there numerous grants that would cover  this research? What do we already know? ( http://1079ishot.com/odds-of-finding-four-leaf-clover/ ) Each leaf of a three leaf clover has meaning: faith, hope, and love. The meaning of the fourth leaf is debatable. It means luck, or according to St. Patrick, God's Grace. I don't recall ever finding a four-leaf clover, but I have found luck on occasion and God's grace on a regular basis. Legend has it that it's luckier if you accidentally find a four-leaf clover. As opposed ...

LowTide May 30 at 6:00am  ·  Tropical storm, Alberto, is wreaking havoc over Memorial Day weekend even on the east coast. We rented a house via Airbnb and saw no reason to cancel. After all, a bad day on the coast is better than no coast at all. The rain comes and goes. We don't know when it will come or how long before it goes. It's our last day on the coast. I ask, "Who wants to head down to The Sands?" We head out hoping to catch a break in the weather. Tucked underneath the pavilion on the boardwalk are diehard fishermen and a couple of women and children. They are the only other bravehearts facing the approaching storm. No one in my party cares to venture any farther. I'm in it alone. Determined to greet the sea before we journey home, I hope to make it down to the observation tower and back before the edge of the storm hits. Chances are slim. The seagulls cheer me on. (In retrospect, they were probably laughing.) The wind kicks up. I feel the force against m...

LowTide May 26 at 6:40am  ·  If you don't learn anything else about your heritage, discover what your parent's favorite flowers are. Mom and I were watching the intro to Howard's End when Lily of the Valley flashed the screen. "Ohh, look! That's Lily of the Valley, Mom." "Yes, that's my favorite flower." I didn't know that. "My dad had shrubs growing along the side of the house with Lily of the Valley growing underneath. And, my other favorite flower is Lilac." Yes, lovely. Of course. I didn't know Mom's favorite flower before watching Howard's End. But I knew her favorite tree, Weeping Willow, which her dad would never plant because he didn't want the roots invading their water lines. Smart fello! Mom also surprised me with a preference for light pink and white azaleas. She doesn't like hot pink or red; I'm shocked. Recently, I did an ancestry DNA test and learned more about my heritage--43% Brittish, et. al...

LowTide May 24 at 6:00am  ·  Darien, Georgia is definitely away from the crowd yet it is only minutes from the interstate. Interstates provide the fastest route to get us from point A to point B, but occasionally, point B can wait. On impulse, I leave I-95 to take a peek at Darien on my way to Jekyll Island. Approx. 2, 000 residents are tucked into this historic coastal town--the second oldest in Georgia. Fishing boats port in and out at the mouth of the Altamaha River. M udcat Charlies and other fooderies provide a place to enjoy a bite of local fare along the river, and there are a few small shops to browse art, antiques, and more. I find it hard to resist small, independent bookstores like "Books about the South"--that, in and of itself, compels a stop in Darien  https://www.biblio.com/booksto…/books-about-the-south-darien . History buffs may also explore the Fort King George, which is the oldest remaining English fort along the Georgia coast.  http://gastateparks...

LowTide May 19 at 7:00am  ·  I'm surprised--almost indignant. We are dining out with friends at a local restaurant. To say we're never a rowdy group would be "a lack of candor." It isn't fine dining, and we aren't socialites. At the same time we have expectations around customer service--minimum standards, so to speak. Scott is one who sparks engagement with strangers. Our young waitress enjoys the interaction and begins joking around with us. Like a playful puppy that won't quit. (I'm beginning to think introverts make the best servers.) It is a crowded table adding to the convenience for an elbow to catch the corner of a pitcher of Thousand Island Dressing. An orange mess ensues. Our waitress reappears, and we solicit her help to clean up. "We spilled the dressing." "What do you want me to do about it?" Ummm, I don't know..."Help us clean up?" Her words aren't intended to be wise. I suppose she is trying to be pl...

LowTide May 16  ·  A rainy night in Georgia inevitably is followed by a hot, sticky day. I won't venture to exercise in the rain as ardent athletes are known to do. Seriously? But the heat and humidity won't hold me back, although, the hotter it gets, the slower I move. On long power-walks, sweat beads up on my forehead. If I'm pretending to be conceived and raised in the South, I describe it as glistening. Blazing sun brings it on. This girl is not walking on the sunny side of  the street if given a choice. I zigzag from one shady spot to another. Shade graciously drops the temp by 10-15 degrees. Heat seems palatable in the shade. As I pass a culvert, I feel like someone flipped on the AC. Ahh, what a relief. If we could only capture the cool air. Evidently, we can. Cliff and cave dwellers tuck into the natural environment because of the ease of making it habitable. An added benefit is temperature control. Earth homes make ecological sense. But most of us prefer living i...

LowTide May 12  ·  It was a long day in conference. I opt out of dining with coworkers; the lure of my peaceful room holds me back. Reclining in a lounge chair on a balcony overlooking the ocean, I take in cool salty air. The sound of rhythmic surf is like a lullaby. Stars capture my view under a clear sky. I can breathe again. Once I manage to move from my self-induced coma, I observe below the railing. A runner is on the path next to a berm that separates the beach from the hotel. I notice that amber-colored lights dimly light the path. Amber lights? Of course, I remember! I jump up and pull the curtains over the window to block the light escaping from my room. This beach is a nesting site for endangered loggerhead turtles. Females lay their eggs in the sand just above the high-tide line. When the hatchlings emerge, usually at night, they dig through the sand and head for the water. Night conditions are ideal because the temperature of the sand is cooler to young vulnerable ...

LowTide May 5  ·  Debbie is professional and friendly while she flips the lens asking Mom a series of questions: "What is the smallest line you can read?" "Which lens is clearer: number one, or number two; number one or number two?" Debbie retired once but returned to work; retirement made her restless. "It might be different if I had grandchildren." What's the point of retirement sans grandchildren? Her daughter is married and chasing her career; no children are on the horizon. "And, I could live without ever watching television." I mention a few things I would like to do in retirement including gardening. "I love gardening!" I ask what some of her favorites are in the garden. "I don't do vegetables. I like hosta and ferns. Foliage--I like foliage." I hear that in Japan, they prefer foliage over flowers. Debbie has visions. She lives in an older cottage-style home in downtown Newnan. "The house across the street ...

LowTide May 1  ·   I discovered a Century plant on the verge of blooming in the small town of Darien, Georgia. Not one single person is lined up to view this extraordinary event. I wonder if the homeowners know what is unfolding in their side yard. The bloom stalk of a Century plant may reach 10 to 25 feet in height. It typically takes 10 to 20 years for the plant to bloom. It is monocarpic, meaning it flowers only once, and in the case of American agave, dies after blooming. I hope the fortunate folks in Darien know what awaits their simple landscape. This could be a big event for their small town.